Plug-in contact

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a plug-in contact ( 10 ) configured as a single-piece and made from a metal strip, comprising a pin-shaped contact part ( 12 ) and a connecting part ( 16 ) for connecting an electric line ( 18 ). A guide part ( 14 ) is arranged between the contact part ( 12 ) and the connecting part ( 16 ). The guide part ( 14 ) is configured in the shape of a box with a triangular cross-section and a flat side of said guide part ( 14 ) is arranged at a distance parallel to the original level of the metal strip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a plug-in contact produced as a single piecefrom a metal strip, comprising a pin-shaped contact part and aconnecting part for connecting an electric line.

2. Description of the Related Art

Plug-in contacts with a crimped terminal for the line to be connectedare generally known. Pin-shaped plug-in contacts, i.e. plug-in contactswith a pin- or needle-shaped contact part are also known. The connectingline is increasingly also being connected by a crimp connection.

In particular, the pin-shaped plug-in contacts with small pincross-sections of, for example, about 0.4 mm² were formerly usuallyproduced from step-milled strip or in two parts from a solid pin and aconnecting part for the electric line connected thereto, produced fromsheet metal. This mode of production involves considerable expenditurein terms of time and/or material, but this is considered to be justifiedin view of the security of plugging and the flexural strength required.Owing to the possibility, normally required, for installation in plughousings, known plug-in contacts also have to be provided withadditional catch marks and other fixing aids so that they maintain theirposition permanently once installed.

Starting form this state of the art it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a plug-in contact of the type mentioned at theoutset which is easier to produce with equal reliability of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, this object is achieved by thecharacterising features of claim 1.

The sub-claims relate to further advantageous configurations anddevelopments of the invention.

It is accordingly proposed according to he invention that a guide partis arranged between the contact part and the connecting part, in thatthe guide part is configured in the shape of a box with a triangularcross-section and in that a flat side of the guide part is arranged at adistance parallel to the original lane of the strip.

A defined orientation of the plug-in contact in the case of the proposedinstallation in a plug housing can be achieved with the proposedtriangular geometry of the guide part.

According to an expedient configuration of the plug-in contact producedform flat material, the guide part is formed by two lugs which are eachangled at a first angle along the centre line of the original metalstrip, which lugs are bent symmetrically to one another at a secondangle so that their longitudinal edges abut and form a covering face.

The plane covering face opposes the original strip plane of the sheetmetal strip used for this purpose and extends parallel thereto. Thispronounced shaping of the guide part gives the plug-in contact highrigidity owing to work-hardening, so that the necessary materialcross-section can be kept small for reasons of strength.

In a preferred configuration of the plug-in contact, the first angle isbetween 60° and 120°, preferably 120°, and the second angle is 30° to60°, preferably 30°, in each case.

In a further improvement of the invention, the plug-in contact ischaracterised in that the guide part comprises, on the connection side,two lug-shaped projections which serve as a stop. These lug-shapedprojections act as a stop for the plug-in contact as it is inserted intothe above-mentioned plug-housing so that it is fixed in positiontherein.

To assist this effect, the lug-shaped projections can advantageously beoffset form the box part of the guide part.

According to a configuration of the invention, the pin-shaped contactpart is formed by two partial lugs which are roughly identical incross-section, which are bent symmetrically round 180° along thelongitudinal axis and, resting tightly against one another, form aclosed cross-section. A tip is worked at the leading end of the contactpart. The plug-in contact has a common bending line which extends fromthe tip to the connecting part, so that bending is considerablysimplified in comparison with other plug-in contacts.

In a further configuration of the invention, the box part locatedbetween the contact part and the connecting part comprises a one-sidedrecess opposite the original plane of the strip.

This recess is arranged about half way along the guide part. The endfaces of the recess can also preferably be limited at least on theconnecting side by first tongues which are angled downwardly from thelugs, forming the covering face, of the box parts remaining.

In a development of the invention, the end face of the box part facingthe pin-shaped contact part can likewise be limited by two secondtongues of identical cross-section at the transition to the contactpart, the first and second tongues being configured in the manner ofrails or shovels and serving similarly to a shoe horn as an entry aidduring insertion and interlocking of the plug-in contact into a plughousing.

To fix the plug-in contact according to the invention more securely inthe plug housing, the front edge, facing the recess in the guide part,of the leading contact part adjacent to the contact part is provided asa stop edge for interlocking with a plug housing into which the plug-incontact is inserted. It is held non-positively and positively therein.

The plug housing provided for the plug-in contact according to theinvention is characterised, in particular, that is receives at least oneplug-in contact, but preferably a plurality of plug-in contacts and inthat each proposed plug-in position comprises a catch projection whichinteracts with the associated plug-in contact. This plug housing ispreferably configured as a so-called pin connector housing with plug-inpositions arranged side by side for plug-in contacts.

This and further advantageous configurations and improvements of theinvention will be illustrated and described in more detail withreference to the embodiments illustrated in the schematic drawings inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plug-in contact according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a segmentary longitudinal section through a plug housing,intended to receive plug-in contacts, with two plug-in contacts insertedtherein,

FIG. 3 is across-section through the contact piece along section lineIII—III, and

FIGS. 4a to 4 d are various views of a further embodiment of a plug-incontact.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a plug-in contact 10 according to the invention in anoblique view from above so that its essential features can be seen.

At its front, the slim plug-in contact 10 possesses a pin-shaped contactpart 12 which is connected to a centrally arranged guide part 14 havinga triangular cross-section which can be seen in the sectional view inFIG. 3. A connecting part 16 which is configured in a known manner as acrimp connection and is connected to a conductor 18 in the exampleillustrated is attached to the guide part 14.

According to the invention, the plug-in contact 10 is produced in onepiece as a stamped and bent part from a metal strip, the width of themetal strip being determined by the material requirement or the guidepart 14. About half way along, this guide part 14 possesses a recess 20which extends about half way up, is about one third of the length of theguide part 14 and divides the box-shaped guide part 14 into a leadingand trailing guide box 14.1, 14.2.

An elastic catch projection 24 shaped on the associated plug housing 22shown in FIG. 2 in the manner of a leaf spring on a housing web 23engages positively in this recess and is thus fixed securely therein sothat the plug-in contact 10 is fixed in its position.

To assist this positive engagement during assembly, the recess 20 iscovered by angled first and second tongues 26, 27 at the rear end facingthe connecting part 16 similarly to the guide part 14 at the transitionto the contact part 12, the second tongues additionally also acting asan axial stop. The opposing limiting edge of the recess 20 serves as astop edge 28 for the catch projection 24.

The housing web 23 on which the resilient catch projection 24 is shapedpossesses a catch edge 30 which is at an angle to the plug-in contactand interacts with stop lugs 32 shaped for this purpose on the plug-incontact 10 in the transition region of the guide part 14 to theconnecting part 26.

All three portions, in other words the contact part 12, the guide part14 and the connecting part 16 of the plug-in contact 10 according to theinvention have the common feature that they are bent upwards from theoriginal plane of the strip.

The front, in other words the pointed contact part 12 located on thecontacting side is produced from a portion of the metal strip which isnarrower than the guide part 14, similarly to a part of the connectingpart 16, whereas the guide part has the greatest width in the developedview.

The pin-shaped contact tip 12 is bent symmetrically upwardly round 180°along the centre line from two lugs of equal width, so that the two lugsrest against one another in parallel without spacing. The contact part12 is pointed at the front according to the prior stamping.

As mentioned, the guide part 14 is box-shaped in design and possesses across-section of an equilateral triangle with the tip of the triangle inthe original plane of he strip and with the base opposite. The sidesissuing from the tip of the triangle enclose an angle of about 120°,whereas an angle of about 30° is enclosed between the sides in each caseand the base. As shown in FIG. 1, the pin-shaped contact tip and theguide part have a common bending line which considerably simplifies theproduction process for the plug-in contact.

As already mentioned, the connecting part 16 is configured in a knownmanner as a crimp connection with a conductor connection 16.1 and aninsulating connection 16.2. The conductor connection 16.1 interacts withthe bare conductor wire which is clamped and therefore contacted here,whereas, in the insulating connection 16.2, the insulated conductor issurrounded and clamped in the insulated region.

A further example of a plug-in contact according to the invention isshown in various views in FIGS. 4a to 4 d. The known reference numeralsagain represent the above-described parts. In contrast to theabove-described embodiment, the first and second tongues 26, 27 areabsent from the plug-in contact according to FIGS. 4a to 4 d (cf., inparticular, FIG. 1).

The dimensional details in FIG. 4a show the possible size of the plug-incontact. For example, it can have a length of 24.4 mm. The perspectiveview in FIG. 4d shows the common bending line B through the plug-incontact and the at least approximately triangular cross-sectional shapeof the guide part 14.

What is claimed is:
 1. A one-piece plug-in contact produced form a metalstrip, comprising: a pin-shaped contact part; a connecting part forconnecting an electric line to the plug-in contact; a guide part betweensaid contact part and said connecting part; wherein said contact pat,said guide part, and said connecting part are integrally formed in onepiece from a metal strip defining an original plane, and said guide parthas a box having a triangular cross section with a flat side disposed ata distance from and parallel to the original plane.
 2. The plug-incontact according to claim 1, wherein said guide part is formed by twolugs each angled at a first angle along a center line defined by themetal strip, said lugs are bent symmetrically towards one another at asecond angle and having mutually abutting longitudinal edges, and saidlugs form a covering face along said flat side.
 3. The plug-in contactaccording to claim 2, wherein said first angle is between 60° and 120°and said second angle is between 30° and 60°.
 4. The plug-in contactaccording to claim 2, wherein said first angle is substantially 120° andsaid second angle is substantially 30°.
 5. The plug-in contact accordingto claim 1, wherein said guide part has a connection side formed withtwo lug-shaped projections serving as stop lugs.
 6. The plug-in contactaccording to claim 5, wherein said lug-shaped projections are offsetform said box of said guide part.
 7. The plug-in contact according toclaim 1, wherein said guide part is formed with a one-sided recessopposite the original plane defined by the metal strip.
 8. The plug-incontact according to claim 7, wherein said recess is formedsubstantially half way along said guide part and divides said guide partinto a leading guide box and a trailing guide box.
 9. The plug-incontact according to claim 7, wherein said recess is bordered by endfaces, at least on the connecting side, formed by tongues projectingdownwardly from said lugs forming the covering faces of said leadingguide box and said trailing guide box.
 10. The plug-in contact accordingto claim 1, wherein said pin-shaped contact part is formed of two firstpartial lugs having a substantially identical cross-sections and beingbent along a bending line into a closed cross-section symmetrically to alongitudinal axis of the plug-in contact, the bending line continuing ina direction towards said guide part.
 11. The plug-in contact accordingto claim 1, wherein an end face of the box pat facing said pin-shapedcontact part is covered in a transition to said contact part by twosecond tongues that are roughly identical in cross-section.
 12. Theplug-in contact according to claim 10, wherein said first and secondtongues form rails for aiding during an insertion thereof into a plughousing.
 13. The plug-in contact according to claim 8, wherein a frontedge, facing said recess, of said leading box part adjacent said contactpart serves as a stop edge for interlocking with a plug housing.
 14. Aplug assembly, comprising: a plug housing made of insulating materialand at least one plug-in contact according to claim 1 disposed in saidplug housing.
 15. The plug assembly according to claim 14, wherein saidat least one plug-in contact is held in force-lock and in form-lock insaid plug housing.
 16. The plug assembly according to claim 14, whereinsaid at least one plug-in contact is interlocked in said plug housing.17. The plug assembly according to claims 14, wherein said plug housingis formed with at lest one catch projection interacting with saidplug-in contact.
 18. The plug assembly according to claim 14, whereinsaid plug-in contact is one of a plurality of plug-in contacts disposedin said plug housing.
 19. The plug assembly according to claim 14,wherein said plug housing is a pine connector housing adapted to receivea plurality of plug-in contacts arranged side by side.